Envelope Tracking IC for Wideband RF Power Envelope Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
In 5G-NR wireless communication systems, the high modulation bandwidth of RF signals in the mmWave spectrum leads to challenges in efficiently tracking the power envelope, resulting in reduced efficiency and increased distortion in power amplifiers.
Innovation Solution
An envelope tracking (ET) integrated circuit (ETIC) is designed to generate an ET voltage that adapts on a per time interval basis, closely tracking the power envelope of RF signals with high modulation bandwidths, thereby improving the operating efficiency of power amplifiers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the modulation bandwidth of RF signal is increased to achieve higher data rates, then the data throughput is improved, but the ability of ET voltage to track the power envelope deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the continuous power envelope tracking task into discrete time interval segments. The ETIC modifies the ET target voltage in each time interval independently, allowing the system to handle high bandwidth signals (200 MHz or higher) by processing them in manageable temporal segments, thus maintaining tracking accuracy despite increased modulation bandwidth
Solution Approach 2:
The ETIC dynamically adapts the ET target voltage on a per-time-interval basis rather than using a static or continuously smoothed approach. This dynamic modification allows the system to respond rapidly to changes in the power envelope, maintaining accurate tracking even when the RF signal has very high modulation bandwidth that would otherwise cause tracking lag or distortion
2Device complexity
If conventional ET voltage generation is used for high bandwidth signals, then device complexity is kept simple, but power amplifier efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ETIC is self-contained and autonomously generates the modified ET target voltage based on the power envelope of the RF signal without requiring external complex processing systems. The circuit independently performs the time interval-based modification, achieving high power amplifier efficiency while maintaining relatively simple device architecture
Data Source
AI summary
An envelope tracking (ET) integrated circuit (ETIC) is provided. The ETIC is configured to generate an ET voltage for amplifying a radio frequency (RF) signal modulated for communication in multiple time intervals. In embodiments disclosed herein, the ETIC is self-contained to generate an ET target voltage based on a power envelope of the RF signal and to generate the ET voltage based on the ET target voltage. Given that the RF signal may be modulated at a very high modulation bandwidth, the ETIC can be configured to modify the ET target voltage in each of the time intervals to thereby cause the ET voltage to be adapted on a per time interval basis. As a result, the ET voltage can better track the power envelope of the RF signal in each of the time intervals to help improve operating efficiency of a power amplifier apparatus that employs the ETIC.